In the fishing industry, public and promotional support is not limited to a single programme today. The greatest value lies in instruments that combine investment financing, certification, export promotion, and professionalisation of the supply chain, as these are the areas that most strongly influence the competitiveness of companies in Poland and Europe.
The most important sources of financing in Poland remain European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021–2027, which is a national programme funded by EU and national resources. The programme has a budget exceeding 3.1 billion PLN, which makes it a fundamental investment instrument for the entire sector.
The programme covers a wide range of beneficiaries: from sea and inland fisheries, through aquaculture, to processing, producer organisations, local fisheries groups, research institutes and educational institutions. This is important because the support is not exclusively directed at fishing, but at the entire business ecosystem, including the modernisation of plants, the improvement of energy efficiency, research and development, and training activities.
In the area of promotion, also plays an important role National Support Centre for Agriculture, which supports the promotion of agri-food products, participation in trade fairs, information activities and the development of brand recognition in domestic and foreign markets. This is particularly important for the fish industry, as export requires not only good quality products but also a consistent brand presence and the ability to enter retail and HoReCa channels.
In practice, KOWR's promotional activities complement FER's investment programme well: the former help build demand and visibility, while the latter finance the production facilities that allow this demand to be met. This combination is particularly valuable for companies looking to move beyond raw material sales and develop higher-margin processed product offerings.
In case of MSC The key importance lies not so much in traditional funding, but in certification and the related programmes supporting sustainable fisheries. The MSC certificate confirms that fisheries are conducted sustainably, and the supply chain meets the requirements for traceability and responsible sourcing.
For fisheries, MSC certification often acts as a passport to important clients, retail chains, and export markets. In practice, this means that the cost of implementing the standard can be recouped through better access to contracts, a stronger negotiating position, and greater credibility in the eyes of consumers. In the branded and retail product segment, this is one of the most important elements of competitive advantage today.
Processing companies benefit most from investment activities that support modernisation, automation, and efficiency improvements. In the fish industry, these investments are particularly significant because facilities must combine high quality, food safety, production flexibility, and increasing environmental demands.
From a financing management perspective, the most important projects are those that not only improve infrastructure but also increase the added value of the product. This means support for new technological lines, better internal logistics, optimisation of energy consumption, and solutions for more accurate tracking of raw material origin.
At a European level, support programmes are increasingly linking economic development with environmental objectives. This means that funding is available not only for increased production but also for projects that improve resource efficiency, supply chain transparency, and alignment with a sustainable maritime economy strategy.
For Polish firms, this is an important signal: effectively securing support today requires combining business, environmental, and formal competencies. Entities that can demonstrate that an investment will simultaneously bring sales growth, quality improvement, and better adaptation to EU requirements are the most successful.
The greatest advantage today is achieved by companies that treat public support as part of a long-term strategy, not a one-off financial injection. A well-prepared project can finance modernisation, develop exports, improve efficiency, and support entry into new markets.
In practice, this means the need for good documentation, a clear investment plan, and the alignment of the project with a specific instrument. Investment support is approached differently from MSC certification, and promotional activities by KOWR or competitions and programmes organised by other industry institutions are also approached differently.
In this context, industry events that combine promotion, education and business networking take on particular significance. POLFISH remains a key forum for discussing financing, modernisation and exports, as well as how best to make use of the support programmes available in Poland and Europe.
It is at the fairs and at Scene Debate It is possible to compare companies' experiences, discuss the practical conditions for using support programmes, and gain a better understanding of which public instruments are of greatest value to the fishing industry today.
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